A Hopeless Case

Jane Da Silva #1

by K.K. Beck

Jane da Silva knows a Cole Porter tune and a silky voice will only carry you so far through the urbane cabarets of Europe. So when the young widow's "eccentric" Uncle Harold dies, she jets back to the States to claim the fortune she dearly needs to ransom her Visa card. Unfortunately, Jane finds her inheritance conditional and her situation critical. It seems Uncle Harold and his old-codger cronies are part of a secret society dedicated to aiding and abetting offbeat lost causes, and Jane must carry on her uncle's "work" if she expects to see anything resembling a windfall. But just how far will the chic expatriate go when her "hopeless case" forces her to mingle with a sleaze-ball lawyer, a scheming psychiatrist, a sinister New Age cult, a stone-cold corpse--and a ruthless murderer?

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

272 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 1, 1993

About the author

Kathrine Kristine Beck Marris (born 1950), known mainly by her pen name of K. K. Beck, is an American novelist. She has written over a dozen books, some of which were part of the Iris Cooper novel series and the Jane da Silva novel series.

An early novel of hers, Death of a Prom Queen (1984) was written under the pen name of Marie Oliver. She wrote a series of other novels, under the name K. K. Beck, such as The Revenge of Kali-Ra in 1999. One of her most recent works, The Tell-Tale Tattoo and Other Stories (2002) is a collection of short stories.

She lives in Seattle, Washington, and was married to the crime-writer Michael Dibdin, who died in 2007.

Series:
* Iris Cooper
* Jane Da Silva

Reviews

[Valerie · Rating 1 out of 5]

The writing was OK, the mystery plot was OK, but I did not like the main character Jane, mainly because I couldn't get a handle on her. From her thoughts, she came across as greedy, whiny, and rude. Yet she supposedly was altruistic and attractive enough that men sought her. I won't read any more in the series.

[Tasula · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lighthearted mystery about a 37 yr old expat (Jane Da Silva) who returns to Seattle WA to try continuing the hopeless case program run by her recently deceased uncle, who leaves her a house and money if she will agree to such continuance. Unfortunately, the will stipulates that a committee of old codgers has the discretion of approving cases and distribution of monies to the hopeful woman. The case Jane starts off with is interesting, and she is resourceful, but I wasn't happy that the old codger committee was making complying with the terms of the will almost mission impossible.

[Norma Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jane da Silva, a 37-year-old expatriate widow is eking out a living in Europe as a cabaret singer when she learns her Uncle Harold has died leaving her a fortune. First, though, she has to prove herself worthy by taking on “a hopeless case” from the private sector—read that as “dead-end” --and solve it. The judges of her abilities are old men who have no faith in her getting the job done. She has relocated back to 1990’s Seattle, her childhood home, to do this.

Without advertising or giving out any publicity, she must gain a case with such requirements by whatever means. One such case is referred to her by Lawyer turned Private Eye Calvin Mason. The case involves Leonora Martin, a young gifted musician who wants to further her studies. Her hippie mother, Linda Donnelly, had given her own inheritance of a quarter million dollars to her cult, Fellowship of the Flame. She drowned soon after and the cult is now defunct.

Jane, resourceful and self-reliant, begins to ferret out information with Calvin that upsets certain people. Along the way, she meets those who help and those who want her to stop. One potential witness with information is found dead.

This is the beginning of a series of 4 books by this author about the cases Jane works with as the trustees deem she is still on trial

NOTE: These have been turned into Hallmark Mysteries. I found them on YouTube.

[Alison C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jane da Silva is a 37-year old widow scraping out a living in Europe and thinking that it’s about time she settled down. As it happens, her uncle in Seattle dies and leaves her a fortune - but only if she can take on “a hopeless case” and solve it to the satisfaction of a board of trustees, all old men who have little faith in her abilities. However, it is not too long before Jane stumbles into a definitely hopeless situation, one that she soon wants to solve even without the potential windfall, but it appears that there are other people who definitely do *not* want her to succeed and who are not averse to choosing violence to stop her…. This is the first of a four-book series about Jane da Silva, set in early 1990s Seattle. As with K. K. Beck’s Iris Cooper novels, Jane is a resourceful, self-reliant and forthright woman, and she is soon joined by a variety of characters who alternately help her and try to control her. I lived in Seattle briefly in the late 1970s, and I must confess that I enjoy running across place names and neighbourhoods that I recall, but one doesn’t need a connection to the place or the time to enjoy this series; recommended.

[Kareninsacramento · Rating 2 out of 5]

I never managed to like the main character in this novel. She somehow had an old ladyish feel to her despite her (as written) cosmopolitan lifestyle, and there was no warmth or depth to her (nor even an entertaining prickliness). The overall feeling was "meh," which is not a good start to any series.

[Roberta Van · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cleverly written mystery involving a widowed cabaret singer, an inheritance with strings attached and a crew of unsavory characters. The ‘hopeless case’ is intelligently presented. But the character introductions is excellent.

[Sidni · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn’t love this was kinda boring but reminded me of Agatha Christie a bit

[Cheryl Jenkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting book, with interesting twists, turns and plot.

[George · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story regarding a woman in her late 30's who has been living in Europe and singing in various places. Her wealthy uncle passes away leaving her as his heir. She returns to Seattle and learns she has to earn the inheritence by taking on and solving two hopeless cases a year. A Board of Directors oversees her efforts and has to approve whether her actions are satisfactory.

The story involves her efforts to resolve a hopeless case and obtain the promised money. Story is interesting as she works to resolve the situation she has taken on.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun story. Jane has been drifting in Europe since college. Been married, widowed and is pushing 40. Her uncle dies and leaves her a very strange bequest. She gets the money and the house if she continues his work right wrongs, but not just any wrongs. They have to be seemingly impossible to fix. The worst part is having to be approved by the board. A bunch of very old, retired professionals who do not exactly approve of Jane or her methods.

[Katherine Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would give this a 3 and 1/2. I love the premise of the book, and I like the main character. I read this book because I thought it might help me with solving an issue in my NaNoWriMo project. I'm not sure it did, but I'm finally going to read the rest of the series.

[Daisy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This the first of a cute series with a heroine who is the widow of a race car driver (how romantic), knows her cashmere, has faults, but is by no means a bimbo. I remember being charmed by these.

[Anie · Rating 3 out of 5]

LIght reading. Will probably try another one in the series.

[Kendra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good little mystery, lots of twists, and it ended well but not how you thought it would. Interesting concept too.

[Vicki Lathim · Rating 3 out of 5]

8its ok

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Satisfying mystery set in early 90s Seattle. Good characters, interesting plot. Recommended.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect little thrift store purchase, funny and able to distract me from Trump talking about his "Big, Beautiful Armada." That's a tall order.